Flexible retracting coil clip-on beverage holder

ABSTRACT

A clip-on container holder is provided to hold beverages in which the clip includes a flexible retracting coil and a coil supporting rigid spine. The container holder may have a container supporting ring, flexible supporting prongs to accommodate smaller or larger diameter containers, beverage supporting ribs and a lower supporting disk. The clip-on container holder can be easily attached and detached to many surfaces allowing a person&#39;s hands to be free for other uses.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of a prior filed, co-pending application Ser. No. 60/918,706, filed Oct. 22, 2007, entitled FLEXIBLE RETRACTING COIL-CLIP BEVERAGE HOLDER.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to flexible clips, and more particularly, to a flexible retracting coil clip-on for supporting a container such as a cup, water bottle or other beverage holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beverage container holders are known in the art. Various prior art designs generally include a base with an upper ring spaced above and attached to the base by an elongated support. A universal L-shaped clip may be attached to the upper ring for hooking on an armrest or back of a seat, for example. Other designs include various clips attached to a container holder for attaching the holder to a fixed structure. Generally, these prior art designs are limited in that they do not firmly secure the holder to the structure, or they require mounting brackets and other mounting hardware limiting the portability of the container holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a flexible retracting coil clip, which provides firm and stable positioning of a beverage or items to be held in a holder attached to the clip. The present invention may be clipped onto or hung on various supports and surfaces so that the individual's hands are free. The flexible retracting coil clip and holder may be easily attached to and detached from different surfaces and structures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown attached to a surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a clip-on holder of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Clip-on holder 10 includes a flexible retracting coil 20, a coil supporting rigid spine 30, and a beverage holder 40 attached to the rigid spine 30. The beverage holder 40 includes a supporting ring 50, flexible supporting prongs 60, supporting ribs 70 and a lower supporting disk 80. The supporting ribs 70 are generally L-shaped and extend between the supporting ring 50 and the supporting disk 80 at the bottom of the beverage holder 40. The flexible supporting prongs 60 include a fixed end 62 attached to the supporting ring 50 and a free end 64 which extends inwardly into the center area of the beverage holder 40. The flexible support prongs 60 help keep a container 90 centered in the beverage holder 40 and firmly in place.

The flexible retracting coil 20 is generally G-shaped with an upper portion 22 attached to the rigid spine 30, and extends to a inwardly curving portion 24 to a free end 26 extending inwardly into a center portion 28 of the flexible retracting coil 20. A space 32 is provided between the inwardly curving portion 24 and the rigid spine 30 to allow the flexible retracting coil 20 to be easily slipped over a rail 100 or other structure such as a ladder rung, for example. The curve of flexible retracting coil 20 acts as a torsion spring to be expanded to accommodate the rail 100, and then spring back to tightly grip the rail 100. If the structure is relatively thin or includes a lip (not shown) the inwardly curving portion 24 may extend under the structure or lip to firmly grip the structure.

In the preferred embodiment, the clip-on holder 10 is a unitary construction formed of an injection molded flexible material such as polypropylene or other suitable plastic. The diameter of supporting ring 50 of beverage holder 40 may be large enough to accommodate a relatively large cup or other beverage container (not show) with the flexible support prongs 60 providing support for smaller containers such as a water bottle.

The one or more flexible retracting coils 20 may be attached to other containers such as a fishing box, ice cooler or bucket, for example. Coil supporting spine 30 may terminate with a hook, clip, clasp or other fastener to hold fishing poles, paint cans, towels, or fishing equipment, for example. The flexible retracting coil 20 may be produced in different sizes to attach to many different surfaces or objects such as canoes, kayaks, chairs, ladders, pontoon boats, jon boats, wheel chairs, and hand rails, for example. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the flexible retracting coil 20 and rigid spine 30 as shown may be changed to accommodate other shaped surfaces (i.e., longer or shorter, wider or thinner, straight, angled or curved).

It should be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined in a number of ways within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof. 

1. A holder comprising: a coil having a free end and a fixed end; a spine extending from said fixed end of said coil; and a fastener coupled to said spine; wherein said coil is adapted to uncoil to receive a structure; and wherein said coil is adapted to recoil to securely grip the structure.
 2. The holder of claim 1 wherein said coil is generally G-shaped.
 3. The holder of claim 1 wherein said fastener is a hook.
 4. The holder of claim 1 wherein said fastener is a clip.
 5. The holder of claim 1 wherein said fastener includes a container holder.
 6. The holder of claim 5 wherein said container holder includes a support ring attached to said spine, a lower supporting disk and a plurality of supporting ribs securing said supporting disk to said supporting ring.
 7. The holder of claim 6 wherein said container holder includes at least one flexible supporting prong coupled to said support ring and extending inwardly toward a center of said support ring and toward said lower supporting disk.
 8. The holder of claim 6 wherein said supporting ribs are generally L-shaped each having an upper portion attached to said support ring and a lower portion attached to said lower supporting disk.
 9. A holder for receiving and supporting a container comprising: a generally G-shaped flexible retracting coil having a free end and a fixed end; a spine extending from said fixed end of said generally G-shaped flexible coil; and a container holder coupled to said spine; wherein said generally G-shaped flexible retracting coil is adapted to uncoil to be placed on a structure; and wherein said generally G-shaped flexible retracting coil is adapted to recoil to securely grip the structure.
 10. The holder of claim 9 wherein said container holder includes a support ring attached to said spine, a lower supporting disk and a plurality of supporting ribs securing said supporting disk to said supporting ring.
 11. The holder of claim 10 wherein said container holder includes at least one flexible supporting prong coupled to said support ring and extending inwardly toward a center of said support ring and toward said lower supporting disk.
 12. The holder of claim 10 wherein said supporting ribs are generally L-shaped each having an upper portion attached to said support ring and a lower portion attached to said lower supporting disk.
 13. A holder for receiving and supporting a container comprising: a generally G-shaped flexible retracting coil having an inwardly curving portion terminating at a free end extending to a center portion and a fixed end; a spine extending from said fixed end of said generally G-shaped flexible coil; and a container holder coupled to said spine; said inwardly curving portion extending toward said spine and presenting a space therebetween; wherein said generally G-shaped flexible retracting coil is adapted to uncoil to expand said space and to be placed on a structure; and wherein said generally G-shaped flexible retracting coil is adapted to recoil to securely grip the structure within said space.
 14. The holder of claim 13 wherein said container holder includes a support ring attached to said spine, a lower supporting disk and a plurality of supporting ribs securing said supporting disk to said supporting ring.
 15. The holder of claim 14 wherein said container holder includes at least one flexible supporting prong coupled to said support ring and extending inwardly toward a center of said support ring and toward said lower supporting disk.
 16. The holder of claim 15 wherein said supporting ribs are generally L-shaped each having an upper portion attached to said support ring and a lower portion attached to said lower supporting disk. 